This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has not been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for six months to a year. This person is looking in academic libraries at the following levels: requiring at least two years of experience.

This job hunter is in an urban area in Canada and is willing to move anywhere.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Relevance to my experience and goals
Location
Length of contract

Where do you look for open positions?

CLA and ALA list-srvs, LinkedIn, HigherEd jobs

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

I write a cover letter and tailor my CV. It takes a few hours.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Be upfront about salary and benefits, as well as specific job duties, in the job posting.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Understand that those of us who started in librarianship post-2008 have usually had to move from contract position to contract position, and that there simply aren’t many permanent, tenure track positions available. It isn’t “job hopping,” it’s taking whatever job is available that will allow us to continue to pay our student loans in a library-related position.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Starting in librarianship before 2008, when more permanent, tenure track positions were available.